STILLWATER, Okla. (K-State Athletics) – No. 15 K-State used a four-run seventh inning to defeat No. 13 Oklahoma State in a 10-9 thriller at O’Brate Stadium Friday night. The victory puts the Wildcats just one game behind No. 12 West Virginia in the Big 12 standings, ranking second overall while OSU moved to third.
Seven Wildcats (32-18, 12-7 Big 12) produced a hit in the nightcap to lead the team to its first victory over the Cowboys (33-15, 11-8 Big 12) in Stillwater since April 7, 2017 to break an eight-game losing streak.
“What a great win for our guys,” said head coach Pete Hughes. “Friday night wins on the road are gold.”
“I can’t say enough about the fight in this group. The toughness of K-State baseball was on full display. It was a complete team effort.”
Owen Boerema (7-1) collected his third straight victory on the mound as the left-hander allowed seven earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts during his 6 1/3 innings.
Sophomore Tyson Neighbors became just the ninth Wildcat to earn 10 or more career saves. Neighbors, who entered the weekend as the top ranked relief pitcher by D1Baseball.com, punched out five of the 10 batters he faced.
Nick Goodwin, a native of Overland Park, Kan., recorded a career-high four hits with three RBI. Kaelen Culpepper and Cole Johnson joined Goodwin each driving in multiple RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless opening inning, the Wildcats jumped on the board with a 2-0 lead as Brady Day and Goodwin went back-to-back with a pair of singles to lead off the second frame. The duo moved into scoring position on a sac bunt before Kyan Lodice flew out to center to bring in Day. Roberto Pena followed with a double into left to add to the Cats lead.
With one swing, Nolan McLean leveled the score with a two-out two-run homer into center field.
The two schools would each tab two runs to the board in the third to keep the game tied, 4-4.
K-State took back the lead when Cash Rugely singled out to right, extending his on-base streak out to 32, until the senior came around on a double from Culpepper. Goodwin tallied his third consecutive hit to give the Wildcats the two-run lead.
OSU closed the gap to one after capitalizing on a throwing error but a routine fly ball to in the outfield ended the threat.
The Wildcats scored four runs in the seventh to break away with a five-run lead. K-State compiled four hits in the frame until Cash Rugely drove in the game-winning run. With runners on first and second the senior avoided the diving efforts of the Cowboys’ third basemen as he laced a two-out double down the left field line to clear the bases.
The Cowboys responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to bring the game within three, 10-7.
Nolan Shubart trimmed the Cats lead to one in the final inning as the freshman launched a two-out homer into left center, but the rally was short lived as Neighbors used just four pitches to strike out the tying run.
INSIDE THE BOX
- The Wildcats scored 10 runs on 15 hits with one error and four left on base
- Friday marked just the second time OSU allowed 15 hits this season
- Johnson hit a two-run RBI to plate the winning run
- Seven Wildcats registered a hit; five with multiple
- Goodwin went 4-for-5 at the plate to set a new career-high
- Three Wildcats posted multiple RBI; Goodwin had three
- Boerema moved to 7-1; collected third straight win
- Neighbors earned his 10th career save; ranks 9th all-time
- Cats went 6-for-13 (.462) with runners in scoring position; 4-for-12 (.333) with two-outs
- OSU scored nine runs on 10 hits with one error and six left on base
- Watts-Brown moved to 5-3; first loss since April 14
- Cowboys called on three relievers
- OSU’s bullpen combined for four runs and six strikeouts,
NOTES
- K-State won its first game in Stillwater since April 7, 2017
- Cats scored 10-plus runs for the third consecutive game
- The Wildcats won their fifth consecutive Friday night game
- OSU leads the all-time series 176-60; 101-18 in Stillwater
- Rugely has reached base in 32 straight games; Day pushed his to streak 30
- The Cats moved to 14-9 in true road games
ON DECK
Game two is slated for 1 p.m. Saturday inside O’Brate Stadium. The series is broadcasted on the Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with radio coverage on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM). Live streaming audio is available for all games at kstatesports.com/watch and the K-State Sports app.
